22. Trevor Noah (2015)

Yes, South Africa's Trevor Noah is no Jon Stewart, and he barely managed to log in a a handful of appearances before being handed the keys to the franchise. But go back to his inaugural segment — a bit called "Spot The Africa" that poked holes in our stereotypical assumptions about where the third world really is — and it's obvious he had the goods from the get-go. In just a few brief spots, Noah demonstrated a broad world view and a very personal take on race and culture that set him apart from his peers. And as the show's new man behind the desk, he'll likely approach the gig more like combo of Oliver, Wilmore, and Mandvi than a Stewart stand-in — the host as super-correspondent. SC